Teacher takes her children on Dubai 'education' trip

True learning comes through globetrotting. That's what Louisa Jones, ex-head of Reading's Civitas Academy School, firmly believes in. She has taken her own kids out of formal education for a year to travel the world and discover new things.

Louisa could invite a fine of £60 per child (Dh290) for "unauthorized" holiday absences. But she hardly cares.

The woman wrote in her travel blog: ".as long as you are taken off roll and not causing the school a poor attendance then the school doesn't mind. In fact, they support some real life schooling."

While opting for home-schooling of her children Rufus and Katie, the young mother wants education for them that can go beyond the school and books.

The family of four kicked off their 'education' trip in a rented villa on The Palm, Dubai. They will stay in Dubai for some time before leaving for Bahrain, then go to Sri Lanka, Singapore, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Argentina, Costa Rica, and explore the United States and Canada.

In her blog, Louisa wrote: "After some quality time with our friends we went to stay at one of Dubai's lovely hotels on the palm. We managed to find a hotel with apartments so we had our own kitchen.

"Katie learned how to swim without arm bands here which has been a huge boost in her confidence. Just a few consecutive days in the pool had improved the children's swimming so much. I'm pleased about this as this is one of the things on my list of 'what do we want to achieve from this trip'."

Louisa wrote: "People have asked me - are you actually teaching them, or just saying you are? Now, to me, home schooling isn't just day trips and horse riding lessons. Although this is a big part of it."

The family sold or donated all of their things, including their house, and moved out of their rented home in Grosvenor Road, Caversham, Reading at the beginning of this month, The Sun report said.

A spokesman for Reading Borough Council was quoted as saying in the report: "Council education officers are aware of this family and are satisfied they have acted within the law. We can confirm there is no investigation regarding their children's schooling."

Source: Khaleej Times